Risk of nuclear radiation floating over from Japan a "very low probability"

Receive the latest local updates in your inbox

FUTABA, JAPAN - MARCH 14: In this satellite view, the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power plant after a massive earthquake and subsequent tsunami on March 14, 2011 in Futaba, Japan. Two explosions the nuclear power station one today and the first two days ago at a different reactor housing unit. Japanese officials said cooling systems have also failed at a third reactor as a result of an earthquake measuring 8.9 on the Richter scale that hit the northeast coast of Japan on March 11, 2011 and tsunami that knocked out electricity to much of the region. (Photo by DigitalGlobe via Getty Images)

Japan's nuclear emergency has some Californians worrying about fallout here in the Golden State.

The only thing between the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant along Japan's northeastern coast and the California coast is the Pacific Ocean and active jet stream that often makes a direct path between the two. Radiation experts in both public and private sectors are quick to say that the likelihood of anything making it across the 5,000 mile Pacific is minimal.

Dramatic Photos: Devastation in Japan

The Japanese government says dangerous levels of radiation are leaking from the crippled nuclear plant and have ordered 140,000 within 30 kilometers of the plant to seal themselves indoors. Nearly 200,000 more are under mandatory evacuations.

Greg Jaczko, chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, said Monday in Washington, D.C., "based on the type of reactor design and the nature of the accident, we see a very low likelihood -- really a very low probability -- that there's any possibility of harmful radiation levels in the United States, or in Hawaii or in any other U.S. territories."

Kiriyama: SF Visitors Divert to Osaka

Some business people are leaving Tokyo, heading for Osaka, until the situation begins to clear in Japan following last week's earthquake and tsunami. (Published Tuesday, March 15, 2011)

There are stations in every large city in the state.

Anaheim

Bakersfield

Eureka

Fresno

Los Angeles

Richmond

Riverside

Sacramento

San Diego

San Bernardino

San Francisco

San Jose

Even the smallest chance of a threat is causing concern for many. Some people are trying to get their hands on potassium iodide tablets at their local pharmacy and radiation detectors have become a hot seller on Amazon.

"There is no reason for doing it," Fenstersheib told the paper. "I understand that people are afraid of the unknown. Even with earthquakes, we're used to them. It's a scary thing when people say 'nuclear contamination.' It's something you can't see, and because you can't see it, people are afraid. It's a normal human reaction. But there's no risk at this point."

Kelly Huston of the California Emergency Management Agency said state officials, along with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the California Energy Commission, are watching the situation. He also said people who buy potassium iodide tablets don't need to.

"Even if we had a radiation release from Diablo Canyon (in San Luis Obispo County), iodide would only be issued to people living within a 10-mile radius of the plant," Huston said.